The battle at South Heaven Gate had never been much in doubt. The outcome was about what Annie and Sixth Sister had concluded when they discussed it earlier. It had been decided the moment Tibbers gave the Main God the coordinates and summoned Nezha from the Primordial World.
The only uncertainty had been how it would unfold.
So when the army led by Sun Wukong swept through the Heavenly Court's million Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, driving them back at every turn before storming South Heaven Gate, peace still reigned in Lanxi Village on Pansi Ridge, far from the clamor of battle. Nothing there seemed any different from usual.
In fact, was it even quieter than usual today?
After all, most of the disciples of Green Screen Mountain had gone off to attack the Heavenly Court. Barely one in ten had stayed behind on Pansi Ridge. With the village and streets suddenly so empty, Lanxi Village—which had grown at least ten times larger than before—had naturally become quieter still.
But Sixth Sister didn't care whether it was quiet or not.
At that moment, she was carrying a jade platter piled with golden, crispy fried bee pupae, Annie's favorite, as she hurried to the gate of the elegant little courtyard where Annie lived and pounded on the door.
"Annie?"
"Get up!"
"The Heavenly Court's about to fall. How can you still be sleeping in?"
She waited for a long time, but there was no response from inside the courtyard. She didn't even hear that bear coming out to open the door.
"Tibbers, you stinking bear!"
"Come open the door!"
"Or I'll break it down!"
After a moment's thought, she furrowed her brow and threatened him again.
They'd agreed on it the night before, but when she came by in the morning, the